Complications of Beta‐Mimetic Therapy in Preterm Labour

EDITORIAL COMMENT: This careful review of the reported complications of beta‐mimetic drugs may properly cause obstetricians to have ‘second thoughts on stopping labour’ (Anderson, 1981: 53), in many patients, especially when there is premature rupture of the membranes and the possibility of intrauterine infection. Summary: Selective beta‐mimetic drugs are the most frequently used agents for arresting preterm labour. For this purpose these drugs have to be given in high doses for several hours and since they act on several organ systems, side‐effects, some of which are potentially dangerous, appear. These hazards, which involve chiefly the cardiovascular and metabolic areas, have been examined in the light of available experience with these drugs. This review considers the possible mechanisms for the side‐effects and offers suggestions on how the dangers in the use of beta‐mimetic drugs in preterm labour might be avoided.